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01-12-2025, 11:20 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2025
Posts: 2
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do stabilizers have to be down to slide?
I just bought a 5th wheel (41’ 2021 forest river sandpiper with 6 slides). I took it out on its maiden voyage over the holidays and i always unhooked and put down my levelers before sliding out the slides, even when i was just at a campground for 10pm till 8am. I have never had a 5th wheel before and assumed that I had to put the levelers down to deploy the slideouts. My 2 uncles have had 5th wheels with 2 slides and they said I was crazy, unhooking and leveling just to sleep one night somewhere and they would just leave it hooked up and deploy the slides (one of the slides must be out to sleep) as long as it is pretty level where I am parked. Any thoughts?
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01-12-2025, 12:41 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Apr 2023
Location: Goose Creek, SC
Posts: 500
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I believe it's less stressful (structurally) to have the vehicle level when running the slides in and out, but as you're about to find out, folks' opinions on that matter go both ways, as with that of your two uncles. I personally like to have the unit level for comfort just walking around inside. Then there's the issue of keeping your refrigerator mostly level is it is an evaporative model. As to disconnecting from your tow vehicle, I would think you could run out levelers and slides without necessarily unhooking. My two pennies worth of opinion, FWIT.
DD
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2010 Fleetwood Southwind 36D
2003 Jayco Greyhawk 27DS
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01-12-2025, 01:45 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2023
Posts: 790
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In order to keep your trailer perfectly level, it is best to put levelers down first. My owners manual recommends doing this.
However, just to sleep, and move on next day, I would not bother. The jacks/levelers are not supporting the slides.
I would get FW parked reasonably level, especially front to rear, so slides deploy level, front/rear.
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01-12-2025, 02:00 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 28,357
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41' with 6 slides........
If CG Site is 'level' and 5vr is 'level' then no need to unhook
AS for slides.........
Does your 5vr have 'auto' levelers or manual motor driven ?
Are you extending all 6 slides?
Personally......with 6 slides I would deploy all levelers/stabilizers but not unhook
*5vr should be level when towing so should be level when parked (CG Site dependent)
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I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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01-12-2025, 03:27 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2025
Posts: 2
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Sorry, I should have mentioned that I have auto levelers, so I can put down the front ones manually but then the directions say to get the truck out of there because sometimes the auto-leveling program brings the front down quite a bit and hitting the truck would be no bueno.
thx for your time
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01-12-2025, 08:20 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 322
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I have always level my rv before I put my slides out it just make sense.
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Retired Army MGS - 1972-2000
2023 Jayco North Point 310RLTS
2023 Chevy Duramax 3500 CCLB
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01-12-2025, 10:40 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Nacogdoches, TX
Posts: 1,838
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I only have 3 slides on a 35 foot 5th wheel and when just staying one night I will just leave it hitched to the truck if fairly level, and I may or may not put the levelers down. If I'm putting all three slides out I will usually put the levelers down as support, but not auto level it. If I'm just putting the bedroom slide out I do not always extend the levelers. But I will park in a fairly level spot normally.
Your rv is much larger then mine and if you are extending all slides, I would extend the levelers for support but not do the autolevel process.
Thanks,
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Wade & Debby Griffin
2024 Brinkley Z3100 5th Wheel, 20K Goosebox hitch
2023 RAM 3500 Diesel Dually
2018 Tiffin Allegro Open Road 32SA
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01-13-2025, 08:09 AM
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#8
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Full timing
Posts: 7,965
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rjdieper
Sorry, I should have mentioned that I have auto levelers, so I can put down the front ones manually but then the directions say to get the truck out of there because sometimes the auto-leveling program brings the front down quite a bit and hitting the truck would be no bueno.
thx for your time
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Even with the auto-leveling system, you should be able to operate in "manual mode". Which system do you have installed?
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2018 Road Warrior 427
2013 Can Am Spyder RT Limited
2017 Ram 3500 w/Aisin w/4:10
2 Dachshunds DJ (RIP 9-12-19) & Joey (RIP 5-14-21)
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01-13-2025, 04:24 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Jayco Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Haltom City, TX
Posts: 328
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Easy peasy, what does your owners manual tell you to do?
As we said in the military.
Identify the problem, fix it!!
Simple enough!
Somethings are over thought.
Happy Glamping!!!

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Dana - U.S.Army CW4 (Retired)
2022 F250 SD with HD Tow Package
2023 Jayco Eagle 319MLOK
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01-31-2025, 04:57 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 114
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit
41' with 6 slides........
If CG Site is 'level' and 5vr is 'level' then no need to unhook
AS for slides.........
Does your 5vr have 'auto' levelers or manual motor driven ?
Are you extending all 6 slides?
Personally......with 6 slides I would deploy all levelers/stabilizers but not unhook
*5vr should be level when towing so should be level when parked (CG Site dependent)
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Been doing this for years for a one nighter. If fairly level I keep the camper hook up to the truck and manually lower my levelers. Never had a problem.
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2017 Redwood 390MB
2021 Chevy Silverado High Country 3500 Diesel Dually
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02-08-2025, 06:20 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 283
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Quote:
Originally Posted by danrn
Been doing this for years for a one nighter. If fairly level I keep the camper hook up to the truck and manually lower my levelers. Never had a problem. 
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Yes, I've done it. I ground all 4 and then adjust 1 pair at a time slowly. It works.
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